#165 - AMA #24: Deep dive into blood glucose: why it matters, important metrics to track, and superior insights from a CGM
whatshot 17 snips
Jun 14, 2021
In a fascinating deep dive into blood glucose, the discussion centers on its critical role in metabolic health and longevity. Key metrics like average blood glucose, glucose variability, and peak levels are highlighted as essential for monitoring well-being. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are championed for providing insights missed by traditional tests, even for those not diagnosed with diabetes. The hosts explain why lower averages and reduced variability are preferable, and explore how post-meal blood glucose trends can impact hunger and energy levels.
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insights INSIGHT
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Superiority
Traditional blood tests like HbA1c can be misleading for determining metabolic health.
Peter Attia advocates for a continuous view of glucose levels, rather than single snapshots.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Peter's HbA1c
Peter Attia's beta thalassemia minor causes his HbA1c to run high, overestimating his average glucose.
He uses a CGM to get a more accurate picture of his glucose levels.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
CGM: Movie, Not Snapshot
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) provide a continuous stream of glucose data, unlike single-point blood tests.
Peter Attia envisions a future where CGM data informs initial doctor visits.
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In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter and Bob dive deep into blood glucose and why it matters so much with respect to metabolic health and longevity. They explain the need to pay close attention to metrics like average blood glucose, glucose variability, and peak glucose numbers. Additionally, Peter explains why he encourages all his patients, even nondiabetics, to utilize a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) which gives important insights that traditional lab testing and metrics consistently miss.
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We discuss:
The problem with traditional blood tests and metrics for determining metabolic health [1:10];
The superior insights from a continuous glucose monitor [6:15];
Why lower is better than higher: average glucose, glucose variability, and glucose peaks [12:00];
Deep dive into average blood glucose and the importance of having the lowest average blood glucose possible [14:45];
Deep dive into glucose variability and why less variability is better [33:15];
Example of how HbA1c and traditional measures could catch metabolic issues too late [41:45];
Postprandial dips in blood glucose as a predictor of subsequent hunger and energy intake [43:00];
Exploring the idea that the suppression of fatty acids is actually causing hunger rather than a low blood glucose [49:45];
Deep dive into peak glucose and why lower peaks is better [57:15];
What the best rodent models tell us about the impact of peak glucose levels [1:06:25];
Why Peter encourages all his patients to wear a CGM [1:14:30]; and
The Peter Attia Drive